Let’s be honest—store-bought sun-dried tomatoes tend to be a bit leathery and tough, without much flavor. They seem like a faded, desiccated memory of a tomato, rather than a fragrant, intensified taste of summer days. Homemade “sun-dried”1 tomatoes, on the other hand, are another thing entirely: fragrant and chewy but not tough, with complex, concentrated tomato flavor and a slight sweetness.

Slow baked in the oven makes these oven dried tomatoes the best. Drizzle with olive oil, toss with spices to make the perfect appetizer or side dish.

Not a labor-intensive process, but certainly a lengthy one. Of all the methods for preserving tomatoes, drying them in the oven is the least fussy. Plus, drying preserves their sweetness and flavor best. And these flavorful little gems cost so little when made at home; it’s worth the time they need to achieve that chewy, raisin-like texture.

One thing I can guarantee is the appetizing fragrance in your house of tomatoes slowly roasting to dried perfection, especially if you choose to season them with garlic and herbs.

In the meantime, think of all the tomato bread, salads, pizzas, pasta, pestos and sauces you’ll be able to make once they’re done. It’s tempting to prematurely devour those tiny little sweeties, hot, pungent, sweet & salty with good virgin olive oil as they are, spread on crackers or toasts.

Here are other mouth-watering Tomato Recipes you should also make (and eat):